Page 93 of Second Chance Wedding
Ana grabbed the envelope of information on the advertising campaign Quinley had put together for Cole and said goodbye to Sasha.
Ana couldn’t help but smile when the four teens teased each other about who was going to beat whom at what. But her heart tugged when they got to the vehicle, and Ben told one of his buddies to sit up front with her while he chose to sit in the back with the girl squished between the other friend.
In the rearview mirror, Ana watched as Ben and the girl whispered and laughed and snuck glances at each other when they thought no one was looking.
The drive to downtown Wilmington took a while with the evening traffic, but it gave her time to enjoy being a part of the fun. She knew once Ben could drive, these moments would end. It was yet another thing to appreciate compared to the man who’d fathered Ben and missed out on them all.
The teens talked and sang along to the songs Ben played off his phone. Instead of just dropping them off in front of the building, she parked and grabbed the envelope.
“You’re going to stay?” Ben asked.
He sounded hopeful, and her heart pinched at the thought of disappointing him. “I’m just dropping this off.”
Ben’s expression darkened, and she hated that her disagreement with Cole had the power to dampen Ben’s fun.
Inside, the darkened interior and noise did nothing to help the stress and headache plaguing her. She scanned the groups and quickly found Cole standing and talking to Alec.
She made her way over, forcing herself to breathe the moment Cole spotted her and straightened to his full height.
Alec turned to see what had taken Cole’s attention. Alec nodded at her, clapped a hand over Cole’s shoulder and then walked away.
She held out the envelope. “It’s the advertising campaign I owe you. I went back and made even more detailed notes.”
“Ana, can we talk?”
She looked around at the people and the noise and even though a part of her felt that she might be able to have that comprehensive discussion with Cole about her boundaries and her son, the other part of her knew she still wasn’t ready. “I can’t stay.”
She pressed the oversized envelope against Cole’s broad chest until he finally lifted a hand to grasp it.
“Soon?” he asked.
The way he looked at her rocked her and told her he hadn’t meant to hurt her even though he had. “I don’t know.”
“Ana...”
She shook her head, unable to bear the pain in his voice. “Goodbye, Cole.”
ChapterTwenty-One
Was that your father?”
Quinley’s question came shortly after the judge left the boutique for the second time later that week, and Ana had settled herself on the stool behind the counter. “It was.”
“And has heeverjust popped in for a visit since you moved out of the house?”
A laugh bubbled out of her chest. “Nope. But it’s the second time this week. He stopped in to pick up a few things for Mom for Christmas.”
Quinley made her way over to the counter and set her small purse atop it, giving Ana a once-over.
“I don’t see any blood.”
Ana gave her friend a small smile and shook her head, still coming to terms with the fact she and her father were getting along. Like the last fifteen years or so hadn’t left them on opposing sides. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, I had plans with Lachlan, but something came up, and he cancelled. I was hoping you’d be my date instead. I’ll feed you, and you can tell me about Daddy Dearest.”
She should probably head home and finally do the laundry and chores piling up from her weekend away, but truthfully she didn’t look forward to the tasks. She and Ben had yet to put any decorations on the tree, but when she’d mentioned decorating it tonight, Ben had asked if Cole could come and help. She’d quickly let the subject drop. “Sounds good. Let me make a few notes for tomorrow, and we’ll go.”
Her father’s hour-long visit and shopping spree had bumped her sales in a nice way. Better still, Ana knew her mother would love the items and brag about them to her friends. All good things.
